Car truck



R. c. PIERCE May 29, 1945.

CAR TRUCK INVENTOR.

R. C. PIERCE May 29, 1945.

GAR TRUCK Filed Dec. 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I INVENTOR. I fiaymoxzddiime BY Patented May 29, 1 945 7 CAR TRUCK Raymond 0. Pierce, Chicago, IlL, assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 1, 1941, Serial No. 421,107

35 Claims,

My invention relates to a railway car truck and more particularly to a four wheel railway car truck comprising spaced truss type side frames connected by a bolster or load carrying member, said bolster actuating friction elements associated with the columns of said side frames.

The general object of my invention is to devise a novel form. of railway freight car truck of the above type suitable for high speed freight car service and adapted to development of varying amounts of friction as may be required under different operating conditions.

A further object of my invention is to design an arrangement in which resilient means are supported at each side of each end of the bolster in such manner as to resist longitudinal movements thereof with respect to the associated side frames and in such manner as to strongly resist any tendency of the car truck to become out of square.

Still another object of my invention is to design an arrangement in which lateral thrusts of the bolster will be dampened in such an effective manner as to greatly reduce the force of impacts upon the portion of the bolster engaging the, side frames, thereby reducing lateral impacts upon the associated car body and resultant injuries to lading.

A specific object of my invention is to devise a novel form of car truck as above described in which W-shaped friction plates are positioned in the Windows of a truss type side frame and are welded to the columns thereof, each of said plates being slotted for the reception of an actuating arm engaged with the associated bolster end, said arm supporting a friction shoe formed and arranged for complementary frictional engagement with said plate and also supporting resilient means adjustably urging said shoe into said engagement.

My invention comprehends friction shoes of novel form, each of said shoes comprising a plurality of spaced V-sh aped friction surfaces on one side thereof, positioning means for an associated coil spring on the opposite side thereof, andan opening therethrough for the reception of an operating arm engaged with an associated frame member, said spaced V-shaped surfaces cooperating with each other to equalize the forces acting upon said shoe as a result of lateral movements of the associated bolster in such manner as to prevent twisting of said shoe and resultant jamming of the associated mechanism.

In the drawings,

'Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railway car truck embodying my novel arrangement, only one end of the truck being shown inasmuch as it is similar at opposite ends thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 1 taken in the transverse horizontal plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1 with the Ibolster end and the supporting spring group removed and the ride control bar and the associated nut and washer shown in plan.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation taken from a point indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1 with the friction shoe, the ride control bar, and the associated spring removed, said view showing particularly the application of the friction plate to the associated column.

Figures4, 5, and 6 show in detail my novel form of friction shoe, Figure 4 being a plan view from the outer face thereof as seen in Figure 1, Figure 5 being a side view taken from the top as seen in Figure 4, the left half thereof being a view in elevation and the righthalf thereof being a sectional view as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and Figure 6 being a further sectional view as indicated by the line 66 of Figure 4.

Describing the structure in detail, my novel arrangement comprises a truss type side frame of usual form and comprising a compression member 2, a tension member 4, and spaced columns 6, 6 defining therewith a bolster opening 8 widened as at [0, l0 and spaced window openings I2, l2. Beneath the bolster opening the tension member 4 comprises a spring seat I4 upwardly flanged as at l6 and providing a seat for bolster supporting coil springs 20, 20' (diagrammatically indicated) mounted thereon in usual manner, the upper ends of said springs being seated as at 22 against the spring plate 24, said plate being flanged as at 26 in order to confine and position said springs. Each column 6 comprises inboard and outboard L-shaped legs 28 and 30 (Figure 2) comprising bolster guide surfaces 32, 32, said lags being spaced to form the opening 34 in said column. Welded to each column as at 36, 36 (Figure 3) is the friction plate 38 formed in the shape of a W as best seen in Figure 2 and comprising inboard and outboard V-shaped friction sur faces 40 and 42 respectively and the vertical slot 44 spacing said surfaces and formed for the reception of an actuating arm or ride control bar engaged with the associated'bolster as hereinafter more fully described.

A friction shoe generally designated 46 and shown in detail in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, is associated with each plate 44, said shoe being of W shape asbest seen in Figure 5 and comprising V-shaped friction surfaces 48, 48 on one side thereof spaced as at and in frictional engagement as at 52 with the complementary surfaces it and 52 on the associated friction plate 38. On the opposite side of said shoe are formed the strengthening flanges 54, 54 and the annular boss 56 formed and arranged as positioning means for an associated coil spring as hereinafter described.

Centrally of the boss 56 and extending through the shoe is an opening 58 formed forgthe reception of an actuating bar hereinafter more fully described. I

The bolster generally designated 60 comprises the top wall 62, a bottom wall 64 slotted as at '66,

66 for the reception of positioning .means on the associated ride control bar, saidbottorn-wall also comprising a depending lug 68 servingto position the bolster with respect to the supporting spring plate 24. Said bolster also comprisesside walls 10, i0 each being outwardly projected as at '52 (Figure 1) into the opening 34 in the associated column and in engagement with the bolster guide surfaces 32, 32 ofsaid column, each sidewall being slotted as at 14 for the receptionof the associated ride contro1 bar, and the bolster also comprises the intermediate transverse vertical wall '26 parallel with the side walls thereof and recessed as at 18 for the reception of positioning means on said actuating bar. Recessedin the bottom wall of the bolster as best seen in Figure l is. the plate-like portion 80 (Figure 2) of the ride control bar generally designated 82, said platelike portion comprising an annular lug 33 centrally thereof and extending upwardly intothe associated slot 66 in the bottom wall of the bolster and into the recess 18 in the intermediate transverse wall "it thereof. Adjacent each end of the plate-like portion 80 is formeda Vertical rib 8i extending upwardly into theassociated slot '66 in the bottom wall of the bolster and outwardly through the slot 14 in the associated side wall of said bolster, and formed on each end of said plate-like portion 30 and said vertical rib 8! is an annular actuating rod 8'4, said rod extending outwardly through the slot 44 in theassociated friction plate and, through the slot 58 in the asv sociated friction shoe 46 and extending outwardly beyond said shoe into the associated window l2. A coil spring 86-, diagrammatically indicated in Figures 1 and 2, is sleeved over the end of the rod 84 and abuts the associated friction shoe at one end thereof-as at 88 andabuts the washer 89- at the opposite end thereof as at Elli, said washer likewise being sleeved over the end of the bar 84. Threaded on the end of said bar is a nut 92, said nut being tightened to place the spring 815 under the desired compression.

Thus it will be seen that I have designed a novel ride control unit in which a W-shaped friction plate is supported on each column of the side portion Iii of the bolster opening will permit the raising of the bolster therein and the removal therefrom while the supporting springs 29-, 2i and the actuating bar 82 supported thereon, as well as the ride control device associatedwith the columns and actuated by said bar, remain in normal assembled relationship. It will .also be apparent that by t ghtening the nuts 92,. S2 to.

place the springs 86, 86 under the desired compression varying amounts of friction may b developed as desired.

In operation it will be apparent that any tendency of the truck to become out of square will be strongly resisted by my novel device inasmuch as such tendency will result in a twisting of the bolster which will be resiliently resisted by the springs 85, 86 at diagonally opposite corners of the truck and it will also be apparent that relative longitudinal movement of said bolster with respect to the associated side frames will be resiliently resisted by the springs 86, 86 at directly opposite sides of the truck.

It will be further understood that lateral movement of the bolster with respect to the side frames will be frictionally resisted by each friction shoe along spaced parallel areas, said shoe bein formed and arranged to resist such movement in said manner in order that forces placed thereuponwill be equalized, said shoe thus bein prevented from twisting and placing stress upon the associated operating bar.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening, a friction plate mounted on each column and comprising a substantially W-shaped friction surface, a friction shoe in complementary frictional engagement therewith, resilient means supported on said frame in said bolster opening, a bolster end supported on said resilient means, actuating means associated with said end and having an operative connection to said shoes, and resilient means supported by said actuating means and urging said shoes into engagement with said surfaces, lateral movements of said bolster end with respect to said frame being resisted by friction developed between each shoe and spaced parallel areas on the associated surface.

' 2. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame comprising a tension member, a compression member and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a plurality of coil springs in said bolster opening and seated on said tension member, a friction plate secured to each column and presenting spaced friction surfaces, a friction shoe in the adjacent window opening and in frictional engagement with said surfaces, aligned openings through said column, said plate, and said shoe, and an actuating bar seated on said springs and comprising an end extending through the last-mentioned openings and beyond said shoe, a coil spring sleeved over the'end of said bar and abutting said shoe, a nut threaded on the end of said bar to place said spring under compression, and a bolster end seated on said actuating bar.

3. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame comprising a tension member, a compression member, and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a plurality of coil springs seated on said tension member in said bolster opening, a friction plate in each window opening secured to the associated column and presenting spaced V-shaped friction; surfaces, a friction, shoe insaid window opening and, I complementary frictional engagement withlsaid surfaces,,,aligned openings through saidrcolumn and said plate, an actuatingibanseated onsaid springs and, comprising an'endportion extending through said last-mentioned openings andoperatively connected to said shoe, resilient means supported bysaid end por-,

tion and urging said, shoeintovengagement with said surfaces, ,and means for, adjustably, securing said, resilient-means to said end portion 4. In a friction shoe ,foria railwaycar truck, a member having .two pairs of V-shaped friction surfacesonone side thereof, one surfaceof-each pair being substantially parallel with one, surfaces of the. other pair, and spring positioning means on the other side of said. member disposed,

centrally thereof. A

.;.5.:In a railway cartruck, atruss side frame,

comprising a tension member, a compression member and, spaced columns defining therewith a bo1ster opening andspaced window Openings, a plurality of .coil springs in said bolster opening andrseated. on said tension member, friction plates secured to the edges of said columns remote from said bolster opening'and presenting nonflat friction surfaces, friction shoes in said window openings and in frictionalengagement. with saidsurf aces, aligned openings throughsaid columns and said plates,actuating means seated on said springs and extending throughthe open-.

ings in said columns and said plates and resiliently associated with said shoes, and a bolster end seated on said actuating means. a a 1 6.In a ,railway car truck, spaced side bers and spaced columns ,defining therewith a bolsteropening and spaced window openings, alignedwopenings through saidcolumns, friction plates secured to said. columns and comprising. frictionsurfaces :facing respective ends of said frame, friction shoes in said window openingsand in frictional engagement with said surfaces,

and'seated on said tension member, a friction plate secured to each column-and presenting a plurality of spaced V-sha'ped friction surfaces, a friction shoeinthe adjacent window opening and in frictional engagement with said plate, aligned openingsthrough said column and said plate,'an actuating bar seated on said springs and com prising an end extending through said last-mentioned openings andengaged with said shoe, and

abolster end seated on said bar.

8. a railwayp'ar truck, a side frame comg prising spacedfcolumns partly defining a bolster opening afriction surface on the edge of each column remotelfrom said opening, a friction member engaged; with said surface, resilient means'on said frame, a bolster in said opening:

supported on said means, and an operative connection between said bolster andsaidmember, each of said surfaces extending transversely. of

frames each comprising compression and tension memframe plate mounted on each column and comprising a W-shaped friction surface, a friction shoe in complementary frictional engagement therewith, a plurality of coil springs seated on said frame. in said bolster opening, a bolster endsupportedv on said springs, actuating means associated with; said end and having an operative connection to;

said shoes, and resilient means adjustablysupported by said actuating means and urging saidshoes into engagement with said surfaces, 'lat-- eral movements of saidbolster end with respect to said frame being resisted by friction developed:

between each shoe and spaced ,parallel'areas on the associated surface. I i

10. In a railwaycar truck, a side frame comprising a tension member, a compression member; and spaced, columns defining therewith, a

bolster opening and spaced window'openings,

said columns having aligned openings therethrough, a single friction platemounted on theedge ,of each column remote from said bolster opening, friction shoes in frictionalengagement therewith, a plurality of coil springs seated on said tension member in said bolster opening, a

bolster end supported thereon, andactuating means associated with said end,. extending through the openings in said columns andhavingan operative connection, to said shoes, each of said, plates, extending transversely of said;

framein aninboard and outboard direction.

Ill Ina railway cartruck, asideframe comprising tension and compressionmembers and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, said columns having aligned openings therethrough, a single friction plate mounted oneach column,

friction shoes in respective window openings and,

in frictional engagement. with said plates, re-

- silient means seated on said tension member in said bolster opening, a bolster end supported on.

I said resilient means, and actuating means recessed in the bottom of said bolster end, ex-

tending through the openings in said columns and operatively connected to said shoes,.each of said plates extending transversely of said frame in an inboard and outboard direction. Y

I 12. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising a compression member, a tension member, and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced window. openings, aligned openings through said columns, friction plates secured to said columns and each comprising a plurality of spaced V-shaped friction I surfaces, friction shoes in frictional engagement therewith, resilient means supported on said tension member in said bolster opening, and a bolster extending between said frames and comprising ends seated on said resilient means and having anoperative connection through said column openings with respective shoes.

.13. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced window openings, aligned openings in said columns, frictionplates mount-' ed on said columns on the edges thereof remote from said bolster opening, a plurality of coil. springs seated in saidibolster opening, a bolster" end seated thereon, an actuating bar associated with said. end andcomprisin'g end portions extending through the openings in said columns,-

the-frame in an inboard and outboard direction and facing the adjacent end of said frame.

9. In a railway car truck, a side frame, com; prising spaced columns partlydefining a" bolsteropening andspaced window openings, a friction;

and friction shoes in said window openings adjustably and. resiliently mounted on said portions and in frictional engagement with said plates, each of said plates extending transversely of said frame in an inboard and outboard direction. 4

. 14. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening, two pairs of friction surfaces on each column, each pair consisting of spaced parallel areas, a single friction shoe engaged with both pairs of surfaces on each column, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means, and an operative connection between said bolster and said shoes, said operative connection comprising resilient means for urging said shoes into engagement with said surfaces, each shoe being slidable against one pair of the associated surfaces during lateral or out of square movement of the bolster with respect to said frame.

15. In a railway car truck, a side-frame com prising spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening, a friction surface on the edge of each column remote from said opening, each of said surfaces facing the adjacent end of said frame and extending transversely thereof, friction means engaged with said surface, resilient means on said frame, a bolster in said opening supported on said resilient means, and an operative con nection between said bolster and said friction means.

16. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening-bob ster opening, a bolster resiliently supported from said frame in said opening, two pairs of spaced parallel friction surfaces on each column, and a single friction shoe resiliently mounted on said bolster at each side thereof in engagement with the associated friction surfaces, each shoe being slidable against one pair of the associated surfaces during lateral or out-of-square movement of the bolster with respect to said frame.

17. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced window openings, at single fiictionplate mounted on each column and pre= senting a, friction surface, a single friction shoe in the associated window opening and in frictional engagement with said surface, a plurality of resilient means seated on said frame in said bolster opening, a bolster end seated thereon, and actuating means associated with said end and operatively engaged with said shoes, each of said friction plates extending transversely of said frame in. an inboard and outboard direction.

'18. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced window openings, friction plates. mounted on said columns and comprising friction surfaces, friction shoes said windowopenings and in frictional engagement with respective surfaces, a plurality of coil springsseated on said frame in said bolster opening, a bolster end supported on said springs, and meansassociated with saidend and actuating said shoes, each. of said friction plates extending transversely of said frame in an inboard and outboard directiom 1 19.. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns; paa-tly defining a bolster opening and spaced window openings, aligned openings through said columns, friction means mounted on the edges of said columns remote from said bolster opening, said. friction means facing respective ends of said frame and extending transversely thereof, friction shoes in frictional engagement with respective friction means, a plurality of coil springs seated on said frame in said bolster opening, a bolster end seated on said springs, and actuating means associated with said end, extending through said aligned openings, and operatively engaged with said shoes, said actuating means comprising resilient means compressed against said shoes and also comprising means for adjusting the compression of said resilient means.

20. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partly defining a, bolster opening, a w-shaped friction surface on the edge of each column remote from said opening, each of said surfaces facing the adjacent end of said frame and extending transversely thereof, friction means in complementary engagement with said surface, resilient means on said frame, a bolster in said opening supported on said resilient means, and an operative connection between said bolster and said friction means.

21. In a railway car truck, a side frame com- 1 prising spaced columns partly defining abolster opening, a friction surface on the edge of each column remote from said opening, said surface extending transversely of said truck in an inboard and outboard direction, a friction member engaged with said surface, resilient means on said frame, a bolster in said opening supported on said means, and an operative connection between said bolster and saidv member, said connection comprising a rigid member engaged with said bolster, extending through an opening in said column, and engaged with said friction member.

2-2, In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns, partly defining a bolster opening, a friction surface extending transversely of said frame on the edge of each column remote from said opening, said. surface facing the adjacent extremity of said frame, a. friction member engaged with said surface, resilient means on said frame, a bolster in saidv opening supported on. said means, and an operative conand said friction member, a reslient member, and

means on said rigid member for adiustably compressing said resilient member against said friction member.

23, In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced windows, a friction surface on said frame in each. window, said surface facing the adjacent end of said frame and extending transversely thereof, a friction shoe engaged with said surface, resilient means on said frame in said bolster opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means, and an operative connection. between said bolster and said shoe.

24. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partly defining abolster opening and spaced window openings, a friction surface on said frame in at least one of said window openings, said friction surface extending transversely of said frame in an inboard and outboarddirection, friction means engaged with said surface, resilient means on said frame in said bolster opening", a bolster supported on said re'- silient means, and anoperative connection between saidbolster and said friction means.

25. In. a railway car truck;- a side frame com-- prising spaced columns partly defining a bolster said surface, resilient means on said frame in said bolster opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means, and an operative connection between said bolster and said friction means, said operative connection comprising an opening in the adjacent column and a member associated with said bolster and extending through said column opening for engagement with said friction means.

26. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a friction surface on said frame in at least one of said window openings, said friction surface extending transversely of said frame, friction means engaged with said surface, resilient means on said frame in said bolster opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means, and an operative connection between said bolster and said friction means, said operative connection bomprising a slot in the adjacent column and a slot in said friction surface, a member associated with said bolster and extending through said slots for engagement with said friction means, and resilient means supported by said member under compression against said friction means.

27. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening, two pairs of friction surfaces on each column, each pair consisting of spaced parallel areas, a friction shoe engaged with both pairs of surfaces on each column, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means, and an operative connection between said bolster and said shoes, said operative connection comprising resilient means independent of the first-mentioned resilient means for urging said shoes into engagement with said surfaces, each shoe being slidable against one pair of the associated surfaces during lateral or out of square movement of the bolster with respect to said frame.

28. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening, two pairs of friction surfaces on each column, each pair consisting of spaced parallel areas, a friction shoe engaged with both pairs of surfaces on each column, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resil ient means, and an operative connection between said bolster and said shoes, said operative connection comprising resilient means independent of the first-mentined resilient means for urging said shoes into engagement with said surfaces, each shoe being slidable against one pair of the associated surfaces during lateral or out of square movement of the bolster with respect to said frame, the surfaces on each column being disposed on the edge thereof remote from the bolster opening.

29. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, resilient, means supported on said frame between said columns, a bolster supported from said resilient means, slots in said columns, rigid means fixed to said bolster and having end portions extending through said slots, and a resilient member associated with each end portion, said member reacting at one end thereof against the adjacent column, the end of said member remote from said column reacting against the associated end portion, and each of said members being operable to resist in compression movement of said bolster away from the associated column.

30. In a side frame for a railway car truck, spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced windows, each column comprising a transverse web and spaced inboard and outboard legs, an opening in each web, and a wear plate extending between the legs of each column and secured thereto, said plate comprising a friction surface and a substantially vertical slot interrupting said surface centrally thereof, each of said slots being aligned with the adjacent column opening.

31. In a side frame for a railway car truck, spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced windows, each column comprising spaced inboard and outboard legs, and a wear plate extending between the legs of each column and secured thereto, said plate comprising a friction surfac facing the adjacent end of said frame and extending transversely thereof, and a substantially vertical slot interrupting said surface.

32. In a side frame for a railway car truck, spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced windows, and a friction surface in at least one of said windows on the side of the associated column remote from said bolster opening, said surface facing the adjacent end of said frame and extending transversely thereof.

33. In a side frame for a railway car truck, spaced columns partly defining a bolster opening and spaced windows, and a transversely ar ranged friction surface in at least one of said windows on the side of the associated column remote'from said bolster opening, said surface being interrupted by an opening therethrough aligned with an opening in the associated column.

34. In a side frame for a railway car truck, tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced windows, and a friction surface on said frame in at least one of said windows, said surface facing the adjacent end of said frame and being interrupted by a slot formed and arranged for the reception of an associated actuating member.

35. In a friction shoe for a railway car truck, a member having two pairs of V-shaped friction surfaces on one side thereof and an opening through said member intermediate said pairs of surfaces for the reception of actuating means,

- one surface of each pair being substantially parallel with one surface of the other pair.

RAYMOND C. PIERCE. 

